Disclosure

I started this blog about 3 years ago as a substitution for my intense scrapbooking habit and to keep in contact with a dear friend.  I continue this blog as a substitution for my intense scrapbooking habit and to keep in contact with now a bunch of online friends.

It has become obvious that I will never become rich off this blog.

I am learning to accept this.

Even though blogging has not made me rich (or even fully paid for the money I have invested), I have been able to take advantage of some fun opportunities and I think that is pretty cool.

It has been my decision to never accept an opportunity from a company that I can’t sleep at night representing.  I realize that my participation in certain activities is viewed as an endorsement.  For that reason I have turned down many more things than I have accepted.

Because the FTC has decided that blog readers are unable to decipher intentions, I am spelling out clearly what campaigns I have participated in since December 2009 below.  I find the whole thing ridiculous because I know you are smarter than that.

*gasp*

Yes, I said it.

Here is a handy dandy list of things Holly doesn’t understand about the FTC guidelines:

  1. I don’t know why my receiving a 99 cent phone app. is weighted the same in the world as if someone gave me a million dollars for a paid post…which I would totally take.
  2. Let’s say you give me a t-shirt with your company name on it so that I can wear it to the mall.  The FTC doesn’t require that I stop each mall shopper to disclose that you gave me the shirt, but if I write about my mall trip on my blog I have to disclose that you gave me the shirt.
  3. We have all been on sites that rate sales/product services – is it REALLY that difficult to decide which 5 star ratings were planted by the company and which 0 star ratings were placed by their competition?
  4. Most posts take me between a half hour and an hour to write.  The FTC doesn’t take into account that that time is unpaid.  It is not like traditional media where someone is paying me a salary to do what I do.  YET, if someone gives me a $2 can of food to write about it is not considered payment for my time it is considered influence over my writing.
  5. Do these same rules apply to Facebook, Twitter, Four Square, Gowalla and Whrrl?  And how would all that fine print go?  Could you really add that in in 140 characters?  huh? huh?
  6. Why do I have to disclose a gift of a cupcake, but a television news doesn’t have to disclose that they have entire segments that are paid for by advertisers?
  7. Why can I go on TV and say EXACTLY what I say here and NOT disclose it, but here I do?
  8. What if I go on radio?  Oh, I don’t have to disclose there either.
  9. Why does the Harvard Law Review agree with ME?  Oh!  That is a GOOD thing.  Click here to read more from them.

Sorry for the rant…I really have nothing to hide.

SO

Here is a handy dandy list of projects which I have participated in relation to June Cleaver Nirvana:

  1. I was a Corner Bakery Mom December 2009 and received a catering package in exchange for my participation.
  2. I posted on JCN in December 2009 about Babyganics, a product which was an advertiser on Burb Mom (I own 1/3rd of the BurbMom.net internet empire).
  3. I participated in PUR’s Water on Wheels event when they visited Dallas and was reimbursed for my time at the event.
  4. My trip to the International Home and Housewares show in Chicago (1 night) was arranged and sponsored by Hoover.
  5. I was a Chevy Girl on the Go which includes the use of a Chevy Malibu for one month.  They assigned me projects to accomplish over the four weeks to blog about and gift cards that would cover the costs of these trips which included Central Market, The Alicia Keys Concert, Massage Envy, Taco Diner, and the NASCAR race at Texas Motor Speedway.
  6. I hosted an event in the Dallas area for fellow mommy bloggers at the Four Seasons Spa sponsored by Scrubbing Bubbles.  Yes, the actual bubbles paid for it.
  7. I gave away 5 items in a giveaway that were provided by PUR as part of their Earth Day promotion.
  8. I contacted the Scrubbing Bubbles to see if they would give me some more spa baskets to give away on my site.  The bubbles said yes.  Those bubbles are so agreeable.
  9. I contacted Little Debbie to see if they would like to give away some yummy treats*.  *I know they are yummy because they have sent me yummy treats in the past and I have participated in a local Dallas Little Debbie event  fall ’09  for Burb Mom (again, I own 1/3rd of the BurbMom.net internet empire).
  10. I was a participant in the Texas Driving Experience Teen Skills Driving Class at no charge to me.
  11. I went to the Uncle Ben’s Sneaky Chef Cooking Demonstration Class in Dallas and took home some goodies including several boxes of their new whole grain white rice.
  12. I was given a $20 coupon with free shipping for the P & G eStore plus the sample box pictured on my blog.  All the coupon codes given away on my blog were donated by P & G eStore.
  13. I went to coffee with the California Strawberries and author David Grotto and received a copy of his new book 101 Optimal Life Foods.  Oh, and the strawberries bought me a Chai Tea Latte and sprung for the additional .20 to make it soy.  I love the strawberries.
  14. I am a VTech Voices blogger through The MotherHood and will be receiving product(s), giveaways for June Cleaver Nirvana and a stipend to write about my child’s interaction with the new V.Reader Animated E-Book System in a month long blogging assignment which includes a video on their behalf – July/August 2010.
  15. The prize I gave away in the Step Stool Supply contest was provided by Step Stool Supply.  Try and say that 5 times really fast.
  16. I am a participant in the 6 week H-E-B/ConAgra sponsored Back-to-School Meal Maker Challenge.  I will/have receive(d) products and compensation for my participation.  I will be hosting a giveaway on their behalf for products/gift cards that they are providing.
  17. I am working with the Texas Beef Council who will be sponsoring a Dallas blogger event which I will host…I am so excited! More details to come.

And, if you ever have a question about the authenticity about what I write, please contact me directly.  If you leave ugly comments on my blog, it will negatively impact your online karma and I would hate to be responsible for that.  My email address for sweetly worded questions is:  junecleaver at tx.rr.com.

Thanks so much.  I blog because I love it and not because it is my ticket to fame and fortune*.

*if you happen to have my ticket to fame and fortune, please send it ASAP to the email address above.



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